Semifinalists: [UNNAMED] ; Wizard ; Bridleway ; Commissioner ; Edit: Bridge Builder
Cool - I didn't expect such a vanilla-ish card to do so well - I'll definitely have to come up with a name now. (once I do, I'll edit the above post)
For this week:
I have a double whammy -
Meadow, an Action-Victory card with a once per turn effect that can gain a
Unicorn, a Night-Reserve, also with a once per turn effect. Boom!
Original versions (notes below, correspond to these):
As always, I'm open to feedback and there's definitely room for some tweaking:
Meadow:
• it just felt like it should be some sort of Victory, like Pasture, but 1 VP per Unicorn was too strong, so am trying 1/2 a VP.
• Is it OK as a cantrip?
• Gain the unicorn to discard, deck, or hand
• is $4 too cheap? I guess it depends on the final strength of Unicorn.
Unicorn:
• should it do something (small) if you can't put it on your Tavern mat? I kind of like that if you have multiple, the second is a stop card. (especially considering they make your meadows more VP)
• I considered only allowing calling Unicorn on your turn, but I like the idea that you might use it as defense against some attacks. If you call on another players turn, like Caravan Guard, the +1 Action does not do anything for you. (also if you call during Buy phase, barring Villa, or Night phase)
• [EDIT] on 2nd thought: is +2 Cards, +1 Action too strong for a card you call (i.e. is this effectively the same as playing +3 cards, +2 actions?) The challenge is I want to Keep the flexibility that you can a) call it when you have no actions to get another actions, b) get two cards when you call it during Treasure phase, Night phase, or someone else's turn. While still keeping the text simple! Maybe something like "You may call this for +1 Card. If it's your Action phase +1 Action; otherwise, +1 Card."
Secret History:
• I like the idea of Night-Reserves (see my recent Gondolier), and thought the idea of a powerful Reserve that could only uniquely be set aside was interesting. Thematically, I liked the idea of a Unicorn, but clearly, you shouldn't be able to buy a Unicorn, so it became a non supply pile.
• I honestly can't remember if I came up with the called benefit before or after the Horses preview (I think maybe at first it was going to be +2 Cards, +2 Actions), but once the preview came out, I was very happy with the serendipity and changed to +1 Action.
• After that it has been a matter of tweaking Meadow, which as you can see from the questions above is still ongoing.